2026 Rankings Release: ATH

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the 2023 high school football season being officially underway, it is the time of the year where initial rankings for the current season are being finalized. After releasing our initial 2024 and 2025 rankings updates for this season, we have now turned our attention to a class debut in our rankings. The 2026 class is loaded with several talented players but some stood out above the rest to make our initial Top 100. With those rankings being officially posted, I will now be breaking them down by position. After covering the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, I will now wrap up my 2026 positional rankings breakdowns with our top “ATH” in the class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["401710"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='401710' first='Jacob' last='Savage'] is a player that has quickly established himself as one of the best overall players in the state in his class. He plays a huge role on both sides of the ball for Ryle. On defense, he lines up at linebacker where he does a great job of reading his keys against the run and flowing to the ball quickly to make tackles. After finishing his freshman year as the team's leading tackler, he has picked up right where he left off this season as he leads the team with 46 tackles, along with 0.5 tackles for loss through four games. On offense, Savage is a physical, downhill runner with good contact balance. He also has the speed to run away from the defense once he hits the open field. Through the first four games this year, he has carried the ball 23 times for 113 yards and three touchdowns. Jacob currently holds an offer from Eastern Kentucky and I expect more to come his way as he has received a nice amount of interest and is a Division I caliber talent.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["971506"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='971506' first='Elijah' last='Ward'] is a young prospect that has the potential to be a rising star in his class. He has played a limited role so far on a loaded Frederick Douglass team but has impressed when on the field. Ward is a lockdown corner on defense that is very impressive in man coverage. He has shown the ability to open up and run with receivers while staying in their hip pocket to mirror their routes. Ward also has seen some carries out of the backfield on defense. He has solid vision and has shown the speed and elusiveness to break off on long runs once he hits the open field. Ward currently holds an offer from Louisville and I expect more to come his way as he continues to develop and his role continues to grow.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["371230"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='371230' first='Daulton' last='Tarter'] is a player who stood out to me as a freshman and has continued to impress this season. He is a very talented linebacker that does a great job against the run. Tarter has shown the ability to read his keys and flow to the ball quickly to make tackles in the open field. After finishing last season as his team's leading tackler, Tarter is off to another hot start this year, leading the team with 52 tackles along with nine tackles for loss and two sacks through four games. Daulton is also currently the team's leading rusher with 44 carries for 408 yards and eight touchdowns. Tarter doesn't currently hold any offers but he is definitely a player for college coaches to keep an eye on over the next few seasons.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["876439"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='876439' first='Dee' last='Parker'] is another player coming off an impressive freshman season. Parker is a key playmaker in Whitley County's offense, finishing last season as their leading rusher and receiver. As a ball carrier, he has very impressive speed which he uses to break away for long runs. He is also able to use that speed to his advantage out of the slot in the passing game to blow by opposing defensive backs to create separation. Parker is off to the 2023 season with 73 carries for 624 yards and eight touchdowns, along with five catches for 31 yards, and one passing touchdown. He has also played a role on defense with 12 tackles and two interceptions so far this season. Parker doesn't currently hold any offers but he will definitely be an exciting player to watch as he continues to develop over the next few seasons.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["283968"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"To wrap up our top five ATH in the class of 2026 in the state of Kentucky, I have [player_tooltip player_id='283968' first='Isaiah' last='Jackson']. As a freshman, Jackson played a key role on both sides of the ball. On offense, he is a dangerous deep threat at wide receiver. He has shown the ability to use his speed to blow by opposing defensive backs to create separation. Through his first three games this season, Jackson has caught nine passes for 113 yards and three touchdowns. Jackson is also a reliable defensive back on the other side of the ball. So far this season, Jackson has nine tackles, three tackles for loss, and one interception. Jackson doesn't currently hold any offers but he will be a player for college coaches to keep an eye on over the next few seasons as a player that could play on either side of the ball at the next level.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65036b79749f4"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Best of the Rest (Players Included in Top 100):</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. [player_tooltip player_id='283975' first='Logan' last='Music'] (Johnson Central)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. [player_tooltip player_id='331725' first='Willem' last='McPeake'] (Union County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. [player_tooltip player_id='401707' first='Evan' last='Hampton'] (Owensboro)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9. [player_tooltip player_id='971504' first='Bryson' last='Rowsey'] (Raceland)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10. [player_tooltip player_id='876440' first='Cameron' last='Flynn'] (Western Hills)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>11. [player_tooltip player_id='401921' first='Malik' last='Kirby'] (Mayfield)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12. [player_tooltip player_id='971505' first='Dameyn' last='Anness'] (Ludlow)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>13. [player_tooltip player_id='971498' first='Jayden' last='Woods'] (Clay County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>14. [player_tooltip player_id='335123' first='Logan' last='Smith'] (Calloway County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>15. [player_tooltip player_id='971500' first='Cameron' last='Davis'] (Ashland Blazer)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>16. [player_tooltip player_id='212333' first='Cayden' last='Varney'] (Belfry)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>17. [player_tooltip player_id='971503' first='Miles' last='Edge'] (Owensboro Catholic)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>18. [player_tooltip player_id='283955' first='Brauck' last='Strunk'] (McCreary Central)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>19. [player_tooltip player_id='971499' first='Aiden' last='Carr'] (Clay County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>20. [player_tooltip player_id='971570' first='Bubby' last='McPherson'] (Boyle County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->